β-N-Cyanoethyl Acyl Hydrazide Derivatives: A New Class of β-Glucuronidase Inhibitors

Abstract

Eight new β-N-substituted acyl hydrazides along with their corresponding acyl derivatives were synthesized and screened for in vitro β-glucuronidase inhibition and found to be active against the enzyme. All of these compounds were found to be noncompetitive inhibitors except for N′-(2-cyanoethyl)-4-hydroxy benzohydrazide (10), which was found to be an uncompetitive inhibitor. Structure–activity relationship studies indicated that the benzyloxy group present in compounds 12 and 13 is responsible for the β-glucuronidase inhibition activity.